The war in the Middle East is dividing the EU states: some are clearly on Israel’s side, others are warning and demanding a ceasefire. At Thursday’s summit, a dispute raged for hours over wording, but a joint statement was eventually agreed.
In the run-up to the summit of heads of state and government, there have been many tough negotiations about the final text. But the longer the discussion went on, the more apparent the divisions between EU member states became. Although Hamas’s brutal attack on Israel is condemned by all countries, opinions differ when it comes to Israel’s response. While Austria and Germany in particular grant Israel every right to self-defense and do not want to provide further advice, others, such as Spain, are pushing for a ceasefire.
“Fight Hamas, support Israel”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stressed that he had “no doubt” that Israel would comply with international law in its military action against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, who arrived in Brussels a few hours late due to the national holiday, found particularly clear words: “If we want security for the European Union, we must fight the terrorist organization Hamas and provide Israel with the best possible support. .”
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo was also clear, but in the opposite direction: Hamas terror should never be an excuse to blockade an entire region and starve a population. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is calling for an international peace conference.
Since there is no unity that many are asking for, a small debate about the wording raged for hours yesterday. There was extensive debate about whether to take a break or multiple breaks. The terms ‘window’ or ‘pause for humanitarian needs’ also emerged as possible alternatives.
Heads of state call for “humanitarian corridors and breaks”
It was not until late Thursday evening that a joint statement was finally agreed upon. EU leaders call for “fast, safe and unhindered humanitarian access” to Gaza. In a statement concluded Thursday evening, they called, among other things, for “humanitarian corridors and breaks for humanitarian needs,” as a spokeswoman for EU Council President Charles Michel announced on X (formerly Twitter).
In the summit statement, they emphasize Israel’s right to defend itself in accordance with international law and international humanitarian law. Hamas is called on to release all hostages immediately and without preconditions.
Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán continues to provoke
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán once again caused heads to shake. Asked about his controversial meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing last week, Orbán said: “We have a peace strategy. We are proud to maintain communication with Russia.” The Hungarian Prime Minister, taking on the role of provocateur, also addressed the migration issue: there is “a clear link between terrorist attacks and migration,” Orbán said.
No progress on migration and money
Officially, the topics of migration and asylum were only mentioned in passing at this summit. There was also no progress in the big chapter of money. The European Commission argued some time ago for an increase in funding. There is talk of an additional amount of 66 billion euros for the multiannual financial framework until 2027. However, some states, including Austria and Germany, are rejecting the new financial injection and instead calling for a redistribution of existing funds. However, this is not possible, the amounts have been planned for a long time and very carefully, according to reports from Brussels.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
